A sessions court in Visnagar of Gujarat has found the 24-year-old controversial Patidar leader Hardik Patel, who is also the convener of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), guilty of causing a riot in 2015.
Hardik Patel, Lalji Patel and AK Patel have been awarded 2 years imprisonment and a penalty of Rs 50,000 each in a case related to vandalising BJP legislator Rushikesh Patel’s office in Visnagar during 2015 Patidar protests. https://t.co/M2a7mIgaEJ
— ANI (@ANI) July 25, 2018
Hardik Patel, who was once the face of Patidar agitation in Gujarat, is now convicted for causing riots in Mehasana. Hardik Patel has been found guilty of charges related to arson and creating a ruckus at the office of a BJP MLA Rushikesh Patel.
A total of 17 people were found accused in the case, but the court has only found three members including Hardik Patel and Lalaji Patel, the leader of the Sardar Patel Group, guilty. The trio has been convicted under IPC sections of 147, 148, 149, 427 and 435.
The court has sentenced the convicts for two-year jail term and also was fined Rs. 50,000 along with the imprisonment. Earlier, the court had also issued a non-bailable warrant against them for not attending the court proceedings.
Hardik Patel reacted to his conviction said that he will continue to fight for social justice and the rights of the people from backward class. Further, he said, “Anyone can not solve a problem by staying at the same level it was created it – to solve it, one must rise above the level of the problem”.
सामाजिक न्याय और सामाजिक अधिकार के लिए लड़ना अगर गुनाह हैं तो हाँ मैं गुनहगार हूँ।सत्य और अधिकार की लड़ाई लड़ने वाला अगर बाग़ी है तो हाँ मैं बाग़ी हूँ।सलाखों के पीछे सत्य,किसान,युवा और ग़रीबों के लिए लड़ने वाली मेरी आवाज़ को भाजपा की हीटरलशाही सत्ता नहीं दबा सकती ।।
— Hardik Patel (@HardikPatel_) July 25, 2018
Hardik Patel is also booked by the Gujarat Crime Branch on sedition charges after the large-scale violence in Gujrat in 2015 seeking reservation for Patidars. The Patidar Andolan in Gujarat had brought the state to a standstill in 2015 as widespread incidents of violence and clashes had caused intense law and order situations. A total of 9 people had died and the Army had to be deployed to maintain peace.
